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Community Corner

Tickets on sale now for the Classic City BBQ Festival Aug. 15-16 in downtown Athens

ATHENS, Ga. – Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Classic City BBQ Festival Aug. 15-16 at The Classic Center in downtown Athens.

The family-friendly festival, which last year attracted more than 4,000 people, will feature three barbecue contests, local barbecue restaurant vendors, an outdoor music stage, classic car show tailgate tradeshow, kid zone and more.

The festival is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and is an official Georgia BBQ Championship 2014 Tour Event.

A portion of the proceeds from the festival will benefit the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, a local nonprofit that works to end hunger as part of an overall community effort to alleviate poverty.

One day general admission to the festival is $3, and a two-day pass is $5. Tickets to the People’s Choice Award Tasting are $10. Visit ClassicCityBBQFest.com for tickets and more information.

Friday’s Events

The fun begins Friday at 5 p.m. with eight teams squaring off in the Restaurant Iron Chef Competition along Foundry Street. A $1,000 prize purse and coveted trophy will be given out to the winners at 6:30 p.m.

Festival goers can listen to music on the outdoor music stage on Foundry Street Plaza, and enjoy mouth-watering barbecue and other festival favorites purchased from an array of food vendors.

At 8 p.m., country singer T. Graham Brown will perform in The Classic Center Theatre. Concert tickets are $20-25 and can be purchased at ClassicCenter.com. Brown has penned several hit country songs and has garnered 10 Top-10 hits, a CMA Award and a long list of national radio and television ads.

Saturday’s Events

On Saturday, the action begins at 10:30 a.m. More than 30 professional cook teams will be lined up along Foundry Street cooking pulled pork, chicken, pork ribs and beef brisket and all vying for a $10,000 total prize purse.

There will also be 15 teams entered for the festival’s Backyard Contest squaring off to win a $1,000 total prize purse for the best chicken and pork ribs.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the popular People’s Choice Award Tasting will take place. Barbecue lovers who purchase tickets can sample their choice of five pulled pork entries cooked by the professional and backyard teams, while supplies last. Each ticket also buys a vote to help crown the winner for the People’s Choice Award.

All day during the festival, live music will be performed on the outdoor music stage, and food vendors will be selling scrumptious barbecue, shaved ice, ice cream and other delights.

In the Grand Hall, the Tailgate Tradeshow will feature some 40 vendors selling vehicles, grills, clothing and more. The Classic Car Show in the Grand Hall will showcase more than two dozen classic cars.

Children can enjoy a bouncy house and other fun activities in the festival’s Kid Zone.

Winners of the Professional and Backyard competitions will be announced at 4:30 p.m. in the Atrium, and the festival will end at 7:30 p.m.

Visit ClassicCityBBQFest.com or call 706-357-4417 for more information on the festival.

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